Equatorial Guinea has terminated the contract of head coach Juan Micha and excluded several prominent players following a player strike that halted the team’s departure to Malawi for a World Cup qualifying match, exposing the federation to potential FIFA penalties.
Among those dropped is the experienced captain Emilio Nsue, as confirmed by officials yesterday. The players who refused to travel cited unresolved grievances related to their working conditions and financial disputes as the reason for their boycott ahead of this critical fixture.
The Equatorial Guinea Football Federation announced Micha’s removal on social media, declaring, “Players summoned for these FIFA fixtures who wish to continue representing the national team are invited to submit their names for selection. Those who decline will be considered as having withdrawn.”
In preparation for Monday’s encounter against Liberia, a revamped squad has been unveiled under the guidance of interim coach Casto Nopo. This lineup notably omits several key figures from the previous Africa Cup of Nations campaign, where Equatorial Guinea stunned spectators by routing hosts Ivory Coast 4-0.
